SPE Live Podcast: Disability Inclusion in Oil & Gas - From Compliance to Culture

This SPE Live reviews four major events from 2025 ATCE that advanced education, collaboration, and awareness in well integrity and asset integrity. Highlights include the WITS Opening Reception, which drew strong attendance and engagement among well integrity professionals. A featured presentation by Federico Juarez Perales Havtil of the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority focused on strengthening well integrity practices, enhancing corporate risk frameworks, and developing effective training programs to reduce operational costs while improving safety awareness. The episode also references two operator panels: “Well Integrity in Mature Fields: Challenges, Best Practices, and Future Opportunities” and “Wind to Wells – Asset Integrity.” It concludes with acknowledgment of WITS’ presence at SPE ATCE and the announcement of the new WITS Board for the 2025–2026 term.   Moderated by: Pierre-Edouard Vincent, Principal Engineer at TotalEnergies   Speakers: Hans-Jacob Lund, Global Well Integrity SME at ConocoPhillips Michael Edwards, Founder of EEI Consulting, LLC and SPE WITS Global Liaison Officer Jovan Stojkovski, Department Manager for Well Completions & Well Integrity at OVM Petrom

Petroleum engineering education is at a crossroads, with university enrollments shrinking and a talent gap looming. Take a look at what the data really show about degree trends, why Gen Z is turning away from engineering, and how SPE—from K–12 outreach to lifelong upskilling—is uniquely positioned to impact the industry’s future workforce.  

The SPE Completions Advisory Committee to the Completions Technical Director (Peggy Rijken) is launching a new knowledge-sharing initiative focused on best practices across various subject areas, presented through a series of white papers. These papers will be authored by subject matter experts (SMEs) and will reference leading SPE publications relevant to each topic. The primary objective is to provide valuable guidance and foundational knowledge for young engineers entering the discipline. The Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section (HyFTS) is leading the development of the first white paper in this series, covering key topics within hydraulic fracturing. This inaugural paper will be presented and published at the Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference (HFTC) in February 2026.   Moderated by: Foluke Ajisafe, Senior Staff Engineer at Liberty Energy   Speaker: Karen Olson, Consulting Engineer

This session explores how the oil and gas industry can move beyond legal compliance to build inclusive cultures that authentically support employees with disabilities at every level. While policies and regulations provide a baseline, true inclusion requires a deeper, sustained commitment to accessibility, awareness, and organizational mindset shifts. Through dialogue with industry leaders and inclusion experts, participants will gain insights into how companies can foster environments where employees with disabilities are empowered to contribute fully, without barriers or stigma. The discussion will highlight practical strategies, leadership responsibilities, and cultural enablers that support long-term change and innovation in workforce inclusion. Moderated by Mohammed Althani, Petroleum Engineering Specialist at Saudi Aramco Speakers: Carlos Sarmiento, Director of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at SLB Tiana Ellwanger, Manager of Engagement, Culture and Diversity at Petrobras

From JPT to SPE Journal, OnePetro to technical guidance documents, SPE’s publishing portfolio is broader and more dynamic than many members may realize. In this column, I unpack SPE’s current publication options, explore how AI and open access are reshaping scholarly publishing, and share what SPE is doing to strengthen paper quality, transparency, and impact in an evolving digital landscape.  

This SPE Live brings together representatives from an operator, service company, and academia to discuss the future of hydraulic fracturing. Over the past decades we have witnessed enormous progress in the development of unconventional reservoirs. The fundamental question is where are we going from now on and what is next? This SPE Live will shed some light on potential paths for our energy future. We will discuss current progress, challenges that are lying ahead, and what we should do now to get ourselves prepared. It will serve as a great precursor to the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Conference next month (February). Join the online discussion to learn more about where we are heading! Moderated by: Terry Palisch, Chief Technology Officer, CARBO Ceramics Speakers: Mukul M. Sharma, Professor, “Tex” Moncrief Chair in the Department of Petroleum, Geosystems & Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin Leen Weijers, SVP of Engineering at Liberty Energy Amit Singh, Senior Team Lead for Hydraulic Fracture Technology at Chevron

The SPE Reservoir Advisory Committee (RAC) convenes over 40 internationally recognized experts to address significant challenges and emerging opportunities in reservoir and petroleum engineering. In this exclusive SPE Live session, RAC-selected leaders will present the committee’s strategic roadmap, spotlight ongoing initiatives in reservoir engineering, CCUS, subsurface characterization, and energy storage, and examine how the RAC is influencing industry best practices and technological requirements amid a rapidly evolving energy sector. These discussions are informed by insights from a recent global survey of SPE Reservoir members. Join our moderated discussion with RAC experts on emerging trends in reservoir engineering, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and digital and low-carbon solutions. Gain practical insights into how RAC advances innovation, shares knowledge, and creates sustainable value across the reservoir field. Moderated by Zoya Heidari, Professor at University of Texas A&M Speakers: Hamid Emami-Meybodi, Associate Professor at The Pennsylvania State University Muhammad Navaid Khan, Senior Specialist in Reservoir Engineering at ADNOC Rahim Masoudi, SPE Reservoir Technical Director. Chief Technical Lead at EnQuest/Veri Energy

What do today’s membership trends mean for SPE? While declining numbers and an aging demographic can be unsettling, the reality is that these challenges are not unique to SPE. As professional associations everywhere face generational shifts, SPE members have an opportunity to hear about the success stories ongoing now and reflect on what will sustain our community in the years ahead.  

Legacy wells represent one of the most persistent uncertainties in assessing long-term CO₂ storage integrity. This SPE Live brings together regulatory and scientific viewpoints to explore how the risks posed by old wells can be identified, assessed, and managed. The discussion will examine how regulators approach balance assurance and oversight, while also drawing on field observations and scientific advances that reveal how leakage may manifest, migrate, and be naturally attenuated in the subsurface environment. Together, these perspectives highlight the importance of integrating evidence-based science, effective regulation, and collaboration to build confidence in large-scale CCS deployment. Attendees will gain insights into the regulatory and assurance aspects of legacy wells, but also explore environmental “fingerprint” of leakage, its detectability, and how science-based diagnostics can support regulatory oversight. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts and enhance your understanding of CCS integrity and risk management. Moderated by Leon Beugelsdijk, Front-End Development Manager, Shell Speakers: Aaron Cahill, Associate Professor of Applied Geoscience and Environmental Risk, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Margaret Copland, CS Wells Lead, North Sea Transition Authority

The Permian Basin stands as a cornerstone of the oil and gas industry, both within the USA and on a global scale. Renowned as one of the most prolific oil and gas producing regions worldwide, the Basin’s vast reserves and cutting-edge technologies have cemented its position as a leader in unconventional oil and gas plays. This region not only significantly bolsters the United States energy independence and economic growth but also plays a pivotal role in stabilizing global energy markets. With thousands of vertical and horizontal producing wells, significant advancements have been accomplished in reservoir recoveries, efficiencies, development strategies, and technology deployments. The 2025 SPE Permian Basin Energy conference will highlight recent advancements, field results, and current challenges and opportunities from active operators within the basin. Attendees will get a unique opportunity to hear about field case studies from technical staff, and operators’ leadership will discuss their strategic plans. Moderated by Tom Blasingame, Professor and Head of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University   Speakers: Luis Baez, Permian Basin Water Manager at ConocoPhillips Johannes Alvarez, Enhanced Oil Recovery Manager in the Shale & Tight Business at Chevron